Hardware server and technical method to optimize bulk printing of physical items

ABSTRACT

A method includes distributing a number of printer devices across a computer network with corresponding logistical nodes, and, through a server, dynamically extracting, from a number of digital pre-print files, metadata related to documents and pre-conditions based on scanning thereof, and classifying the number of digital pre-print files into groups based on an extent to which the dynamically extracted metadata is shared between constituents thereof. The method also includes, through the server, matching each classified group to a logistical node based on the dynamically extracted metadata shared between the constituents and dynamically tracked printer characteristics, commingling the extracted metadata within the each classified group into a master document in which the extracted metadata is laid out to enable printing through a printer device associated with the matched logistical node, and reclassifying a constituent of the classified group under another group based on a status of unsuitability of the printer device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is a Continuation-In-Part application of, andhereby incorporates by reference the entirety of the disclosures of, andclaims priority to each of the following cases:

-   -   (1) co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/203,583        titled HARDWARE SERVER AND TECHNICAL METHOD TO OPTIMIZE BULK        PRINTING OF MAILING ITEMS filed on Nov. 28, 2018, which is a        Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. Utility patent        application Ser. No. 14/995,194 titled HARDWARE SERVER AND        TECHNICAL METHOD TO OPTIMIZE PRINTING LOCATION OF DISTRIBUTED        BULK MAIL filed on Jan. 13, 2016, which is a        Continuation-in-Part application of:        -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/475,599 titled AUTOMATIC            INITIATION OF A RESPONSE ACTION WHEN AN EVENT ASSOCIATED            WITH AN ITEM IN TRANSIT IS BASED ON LOGISTICAL NODE SCAN            DATA filed on Sep. 3, 2014 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.            9,264,297 on Feb. 16, 2016, which is a continuation            application of:            -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/079,633 titled                AUTOMATIC INITIATION OF A RESPONSE ACTION WHEN AN EVENT                ASSOCIATED WITH AN ITEM IN TRANSIT IS BASED ON                LOGISTICAL NODE SCAN DATA filed on Nov. 13, 2013 and                issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,479,390 on Oct. 25, 2016,                -   which further claims priority to U.S. Provisional                    Patent Application No. 61/726,555 titled TRIGGER                    ACTIVATION BY WAY OF A SCAN OF A MAIL PIECE filed on                    Nov. 14, 2012.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This disclosure relates generally to distributed computing systems and,more particularly, to a method, a device and/or a system of a hardwareserver and technical method to optimize bulk printing of physical items.

BACKGROUND

Bulk mail may be sent by commercial mailers such as banks, credit cardcompanies, utility companies, restaurants, etc. Bulk mail may bequantities of postal mail prepared for mailing at reduced postage rates.The preparation may include presorting and placing into containers bysome order. The containers, along with a manifest, may be taken to anarea in a post office such as a bulk-mail-entry unit (BMEU). Thepresorting and the use of containers may allow highly automated mailprocessing, both in bulk and piecewise.

Depending on the postage level, certain conditions might be required foran additional discount: minimum number of pieces (e.g., 200), weightlimits, ability for the logistics provider (e.g., United ParcelService®, FedEx®, Amazon®, USPS®) to process by machine, addressesformatting standardized barcode, presorted by three-digit postal codeprefix, five-digit postal code, ZIP+4, or 11-digital delivery point,delivered in trays, bundles, or pallets partitioned by destination,delivered directly to a regional network distribution center (NDC),destination sectional center facility (SCF), destination post office ordelivery unit (DU), certification of mailing list accuracy and freshness(e.g., correct postal codes, purging of stale addresses, processing ofchange-of-address notifications).

While many discounts may be available, a bulk mailer may not be able totake advantage of the discounts which require the bulk mail to bedeposited at the destination NDC (DNDC), the destination SCF (DSCF) orthe destination DU (DDU). Such discounts may be offered because of thereduction in transportation and distribution cost.

A bulk mailer may subcontract a certified local printer to print a largequantity of mail pieces. The mail piece may have the post address andmachine-readable barcode pre-printed. The mail piece may be pre-stampedand pre-canceled (with the stamp postmarked with a date and a locationto prevent its use on future mailings). The mail pieces may be sortedaccording to NDC, SCF, DU, carrier route or carrier walk sequence andput into appropriate containers. The mail pieces may be shipped to anearby NDC and mailed as bulk mail. One problem for the bulk mailer maybe that the mail pieces may not be mailed in the destination NDC,destination SCF or destination DU such that the mailing service needs toship the mail to the corresponding DNDC, DSCF or the DDU. As a result,the destination discounts (e.g., discounts for DNDC, DSCF and DDU) whichare significant cannot be applied.

Another problem may be that, even if the mail pieces can be mailed inthe DNDC, DSCF or the DDU, the volume may be too small to satisfy theminimum amount requirement. Take DDU as an example. While DDU discountsare significant and the bulk mail amount may be significant, DDUs arenumerous with each DDU corresponding to a relatively small geographicregion such that many DDUs may have such small portions of the bulk mailthat the minimum amount requirement may not be satisfied.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are a method and/or a device of a hardware server andtechnical method to optimize bulk printing of physical items.

In one aspect, a method includes distributing each printer device of anumber of printer devices across a computer network with a correspondingeach logistical node of a number of logistical nodes associatedtherewith, with the corresponding each logistical node being a dataprocessing device, and determining, through a server communicativelycoupled to the number of printer devices via the computer network,receipt of a number of digital pre-print files included in acorresponding number of requests. Each of the number of requestsoriginates from a client device of a number of client devicescommunicatively coupled to the server through the computer network. Thenumber of requests is relevant to printing a number of physical items.The client device of the number of client devices originating the eachrequest is relevant to a physical item of the number of physical items,and each of the number of digital pre-print files specifies printing andlayout information pertinent to a corresponding physical item of thenumber of physical items.

The method also includes, through the server, dynamically extracting,from the number of digital pre-print files, metadata relevant todocuments related to the number of physical items to be printed andmetadata representing auxiliary information specifying pre-conditionsassociated with the corresponding number of requests based onautomatically scanning the each of the number of digital pre-printfiles, classifying, through the server, the number of digital pre-printfiles into groups based on an extent to which the dynamically extractedmetadata is shared between constituents thereof, dynamically trackingthe each printer device of the number of printer devices through thecorresponding each logistical node in conjunction with the server forprinter characteristics thereof following the classification of thenumber of digital pre-print files into the groups, and matching, throughthe server, each classified group to a logistical node based on thedynamically extracted metadata shared between the constituents thereofand the dynamically tracked printer characteristics.

Further, the method includes commingling, through the server, theextracted metadata related to all of the constituents of the eachclassified group into a master document in which the commingledextracted metadata is laid out to enable printing thereof through aprinter device associated with the matched logistical node, determining,through the server, a status of unsuitability of the printer deviceassociated with the matched logistical node based on a sensor associatedwith the printer device transmitting status information of the printerdevice and/or an environment surrounding the printer device to theserver via the matched logistical node, with the determined status ofunsuitability modifying the printer characteristics of the printerdevice that causes exclusion of the printer device for distribution ofany of the number of digital pre-print files thereto and/or updation ofan administrator of the matched logistical node with a requirement tochange a component of the printer device, and reclassifying, through theserver, one or more constituent(s) of the classified group associatedwith the matched logistical node under another classified group toenable matching thereof to another logistical node based on thedetermined status of unsuitability.

In another aspect, a non-transitory medium, readable through a serverand including instructions embodied therein that are executable throughthe server, includes instructions to distribute each printer device of anumber of printer devices across a computer network with a correspondingeach logistical node of a number of logistical nodes associatedtherewith, with the corresponding each logistical node being a dataprocessing device and the number of printer devices beingcommunicatively coupled to the server via the computer network, andinstructions to determine receipt of a number of digital pre-print filesincluded in a corresponding number of requests. Each of the number ofrequests originates from a client device of a number of client devicescommunicatively coupled to the server through the computer network. Thenumber of requests is relevant to printing a number of physical items.The client device of the number of client devices originating the eachrequest is relevant to a physical item of the number of physical items,and each of the number of digital pre-print files specifies printing andlayout information pertinent to a corresponding physical item of thenumber of physical items.

The non-transitory medium also includes instructions to dynamicallyextract, from the number of digital pre-print files, metadata relevantto documents related to the number of physical items to be printed andmetadata representing auxiliary information specifying pre-conditionsassociated with the corresponding number of requests based onautomatically scanning the each of the number of digital pre-printfiles, instructions to classify the number of digital pre-print filesinto groups based on an extent to which the dynamically extractedmetadata is shared between constituents thereof, instructions todynamically track the each printer device of the number of printerdevices in conjunction with the corresponding each logistical node forprinter characteristics thereof following the classification of thenumber of digital pre-print files into the groups, and instructions tomatch each classified group to a logistical node based on thedynamically extracted metadata shared between the constituents thereofand the dynamically tracked printer characteristics.

Further, the non-transitory medium includes instructions to comminglethe extracted metadata related to all of the constituents of the eachclassified group into a master document in which the commingledextracted metadata is laid out to enable printing thereof through aprinter device associated with the matched logistical node, instructionsto determine a status of unsuitability of the printer device associatedwith the matched logistical node based on a sensor associated with theprinter device transmitting status information of the printer deviceand/or an environment surrounding the printer device to the server viathe matched logistical node, with the determined status of unsuitabilitymodifying the printer characteristics of the printer device that causesexclusion of the printer device for distribution of any of the number ofdigital pre-print files thereto and/or updation of an administrator ofthe matched logistical node with a requirement to change a component ofthe printer device, and instructions to reclassify one or moreconstituent(s) of the classified group associated with the matchedlogistical node under another classified group to enable matchingthereof to another logistical node based on the determined status ofunsuitability.

In yet another aspect, a server includes a memory and a processorcommunicatively coupled to the memory. The processor executesinstructions to distribute each printer device of a number of printerdevices across a computer network with a corresponding each logisticalnode of a number of logistical nodes associated therewith, with thecorresponding each logistical node being a data processing device andthe number of printer devices being coupled to the server through thecomputer network, and to determine receipt of a number of digitalpre-print files included in a corresponding number of requests. Each ofthe number of requests originates from a client device of a number ofclient devices communicatively coupled to the server through thecomputer network. The number of requests is relevant to printing anumber of physical items. The client device of the number of clientdevices originating the each request is relevant to a physical item ofthe number of physical items, and each of the number of digitalpre-print files specifies printing and layout information pertinent to acorresponding physical item of the number of physical items.

The processor also executes instructions to dynamically extract, fromthe number of digital pre-print files, metadata relevant to documentsrelated to the number of physical items to be printed and metadatarepresenting auxiliary information specifying pre-conditions associatedwith the corresponding number of requests based on automaticallyscanning the each of the number of digital pre-print files, to classifythe number of digital pre-print files into groups based on an extent towhich the dynamically extracted metadata is shared between constituentsthereof, dynamically track the each printer device of the number ofprinter devices in conjunction with the corresponding each logisticalnode for printer characteristics thereof following the classification ofthe number of digital pre-print files into the groups, and to match eachclassified group to a logistical node based on the dynamically extractedmetadata shared between the constituents thereof and the dynamicallytracked printer characteristics.

Further, the processor executes instructions to commingle the extractedmetadata related to all of the constituents of the each classified groupinto a master document in which the commingled extracted metadata islaid out to enable printing thereof through a printer device associatedwith the matched logistical node, to determine a status of unsuitabilityof the printer device associated with the matched logistical node basedon a sensor associated with the printer device transmitting statusinformation of at the printer device and/or an environment surroundingthe printer device to the server via the matched logistical node, withthe determined status of unsuitability modifying the printercharacteristics of the printer device that causes exclusion of theprinter device for distribution of any of the number of digitalpre-print files thereto and/or updation of an administrator of thematched logistical node with a requirement to change a component of theprinter device, and to reclassify one or more constituent(s) of theclassified group associated with the matched logistical node underanother classified group to enable matching thereof to anotherlogistical node based on the determined status of unsuitability.

Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and fromthe detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The embodiments of this disclosure are illustrated by way of example andnot limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings, in whichlike references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a network view illustrating a mail pre-process serverreceiving a set of bulk-mailing requests from multiple mailers,selecting a printing company to print physical mail pieces and mail tomail recipients at some logistical node near the recipients, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the set of bulk mailing requestswith associated digital pre-print mail files and destination addressesreceived by the mail pre-process server of FIG. 1 , according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating portions of destinationaddresses in the uniquely identified print request data to a firstprinting company and/or a second printing company of the mailpre-process server of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the uniquely identified print request datasent by the mail pre-process server of FIG. 1 to the first printingcompany and/or the second printing company, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the processing instruction,delivery instruction and mailing instruction in the uniquely identifiedprint request data of the mail pre-process server of FIG. 1 , accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the processing instruction in the uniquelyidentified print request data of the mail pre-process server of FIG. 1 ,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the mailing instruction to causeto mail the physical mail pieces at discounted postal rates associatedwith the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy of the mail pre-processserver of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the typical mail flow ofprinting, processing, delivery, mailing and final delivery of thephysical mail pieces with/without a delivery company associated with thelogistical node and/or the aggregated logistical node of the mailpre-process server of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a network view illustrating the selection of a deliverycompany for delivering the physical mail pieces based on a uniquelyidentified delivery data received from the mail pre-process server 100,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a status communication network view of the mail pre-processserver of FIG. 1 illustrating the communication of a set of bulk mailingrequest status to respective ones of the multiple mailers, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a critical path view illustrating a flow based on time inwhich critical operations of the mail pre-process server of FIG. 1 areestablished, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11B is a continuation of the critical path view of FIG. 11A of themail pre-process server of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a process flow to select a printing company for theset of bulk-mailing requests from multiple mailers based on thesatisfaction of the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy of thelogistical node of the mail pre-process server of FIG. 1 , according toone embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of exemplary data processing devices thatcan be used to implement the methods and systems disclosed herein,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a cloud computing system in which themail pre-process server of FIG. 1 interacts with a number of printerdevices through a network, according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of an optimization engine of FIG. 14dynamically performing collation of extracted metadata from each digitalpre-print mail file uploaded through a corresponding client device,according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of transmission of printable versions of amaster digital file/document to entities associated with client devicesof FIG. 14 , according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an example printer device of FIG. 14 witha processor communicatively coupled to a memory, according to one ormore embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a process flow diagram detailing the operations involved inrealizing the cloud computing system of FIG. 14 , according to one ormore embodiments.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent fromaccompanying drawings and from the disclosure that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed are a method and/or a device of a hardware server andtechnical method to optimize bulk printing of physical items. Althoughthe present embodiments have been described with reference to specificexample embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.

In one embodiment, a mail pre-process server 100 includes a processor102, a memory 104 communicatively coupled with the processor 102, and/ora set of instructions 108 to be executed through the processor 102 usingthe memory 104 to determine that a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 frommultiple mailers 114 are each associated with a digital pre-print mailfile 200 associated with destination addresses 204. The set ofinstructions 108, when executed, determines that a logistical node 122is associated with certain ones 206 of the destination addresses 204based on a mail-piece characteristic 202, a distance metric 208, and/ora postal destination database 133.

The set of instructions 108 further determines whether the certain ones206 of the destination addresses 204 associated with the logistical node122 satisfies a minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of thelogistical node 122. When the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124is satisfied, the set of instructions 108 select a first printingcompany 120A near to the logistical node 122 based on the mail-piececharacteristics 202 and/or an optimization criteria associated with thelogistical node 122.

When the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 is unsatisfied, theset of instructions 108 select a second printing company 120B near to anaggregated logistical node 128 associated with the logistical node 122for which an aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 issatisfied based on the mail-piece characteristics 202 and/or anoptimization criteria associated with the aggregated logistical node128. The aggregated logistical node 128 is an aggregation center formultiple geographically proximate logistical node(s) (e.g., 122 and/or302). Furthermore, the set of instructions 108 distributes a uniquelyidentified print request data 118A/118B to the first printing company120A and/or the second printing company 120B to print a print quantity400A/400B of physical mail pieces 126A/126B from the digital pre-printmail file(s) 200.

The uniquely identified print request data 118A may define the printquantity 400A associated with a portion 300A of the certain ones 206 ofthe destination addresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122near to the first printing company 120A with the portion 300A satisfyingthe minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124. Similarly, the uniquelyidentified print request data 118B may define the print quantity 400Bassociated with a portion 300B of the certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 associated with the aggregated logistical node128 near to the second printing company 120B with the portion 300Bsatisfying the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130. Othercertain ones 306 of destination addresses 204 associated with otherlogistical node(s) 302 associated with the aggregated logistical node128 may each contribute a portion 308 for the aggregated logistical node128. The print quantity 400B may be associated with the combination ofportions 310 from the certain ones 206 and other certain ones 306 suchthat the print quantity 400B may satisfy the aggregate minimum bulkmailing quantity policy 130.

Each of the first printing company 120A and/or the second printingcompany 120B may be selected from a list of approved printing companies132 accessible to the mail pre-process server 100. The uniquelyidentified print request data 118A/118B may include a processinginstruction 500A/500B to process physical mail pieces 126A/126Bgenerated from the portion 300A and/or the combination of portions 310of the destination addresses 204 based on a processing requirement. Theprocessing may include sorting 602, stamping 604, cancelling 606,packaging 608, and/or printing 610 of a mailing metadata 612 withassociated mailing metadata 612 such as a recipient title 614, arecipient name 616, a recipient address 618, a postal code 620, and/or apostal barcode 622.

In addition, the uniquely identified print request data 118A/118B mayinclude a delivery instruction 502A/502B to deliver the physical mailpieces 126A/126B to the logistical node 122 and/or the associatedaggregated logistical node 128 based on some delivery requirement(s).Furthermore, the uniquely identified print request data 118A/118B mayinclude a mailing instruction 504A/504B to cause to mail the physicalmail pieces 126A/126B at discounted postal rate(s) 700A/700B associatedwith the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 associated with thelogistical node 122 and/or the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 130 associated with the aggregated logistical node 128 based onsome mailing requirement(s).

The set of instructions 108 may select a first delivery company 810Aand/or a second delivery company 810B associated with the logisticalnode 122 and/or the associated aggregated logistical node 128.Additionally, the set of instructions 108 may distribute a uniquelyidentified delivery request data 900A/900B to the delivery company810A/810B. The delivery company 810A/810B may deliver 804 the physicalmail pieces 126A/126B to the logistical node 122 and/or the associatedaggregated logistical node 128 based on the delivery requirement(s).

The set of instructions 108 may further communicate a set of bulkmailing requests status 1008, comprising status 1000, 1002, 1004 and1006 of the respective printing company 120A/120B and delivery company810A/810B, to respective ones of the multiple mailers 114 based on theuniquely identified print request data 118A/118B based on a stage ofprinting 800, processing 802, delivery 804, and/or mailing 806processes.

In another embodiment, a mail pre-process server 100 includes aprocessor 102, a memory 104 communicatively coupled with the processor102, and/or a set of instructions 108. The set of instructions 108, whenexecuted through the processor 102 using the memory 104, determines thata set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers 114 are eachassociated with a digital pre-print mail file 200 associated withdestination addresses 204. Further, the set of instructions 108determines that a logistical node 122 is associated with certain ones206 of the destination addresses 204 based on a mail-piececharacteristic 202, a distance metric 208, and/or a postal destinationdatabase 133.

The set of instructions 108 waits and determines whether the certainones 206 of the destination addresses 204 associated with the logisticalnode 122 satisfies a minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of thelogistical node 122. When the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124is satisfied, the set of instructions 108 selects a first printingcompany 120A near to the logistical node 122 based on the mail-piececharacteristics 202 and/or an optimization criteria associated with thelogistical node 122. Further, the set of instructions 108 distributes auniquely identified print request data 118A to the first printingcompany 120A to print a print quantity 400A of physical mail pieces 126Afrom the digital pre-print mail file 200.

In yet another embodiment, a method of a mail pre-process server 100includes determining, using a processor 102 communicatively coupled witha memory 104, that a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiplemailers 114 are each associated with a digital pre-print mail file 200associated with destination addresses 204. The method determines that alogistical node 122 is associated with certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 based on a mail-piece characteristic 202, adistance metric 208, and/or a postal destination database 133. Themethod further determines whether the certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122satisfies a minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logisticalnode 122.

When the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 is satisfied, themethod selects a first printing company 120A near to the logistical node122 based on the mail-piece characteristics 202 and/or an optimizationcriteria associated with the logistical node 122. When the minimum bulkmailing quantity policy 124 is unsatisfied, the method selects a secondprinting company 120B near to an aggregated logistical node 128associated with the logistical node 122 for which an aggregate minimumbulk mailing quantity policy 130 is satisfied based on the mail-piececharacteristics 202 and/or an optimization criteria associated with theaggregated logistical node 128.

The aggregated logistical node 128 is an aggregation center for multiplegeographically proximate logistical node(s) (e.g., 122 and/or 302).Further, the method distributes a uniquely identified print request data118A/118B to either one of the first printing company 120A and/or thesecond printing company 120B to print a print quantity 400A/400B ofphysical mail pieces 126A/126B from the digital pre-print mail file(s)200.

FIG. 1 is a network view 150 illustrating a mail pre-process server 100receiving a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers 114,selecting a printing company 120A/120B to print 800 physical mail pieces126A/126B and mailing 806 to mail recipients 134 at some logistical node(e.g., 122, 128) near the mail recipients 134, according to oneembodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 1 illustrates a mail pre-process server 100, aprocessor 102, a memory 104, a database 106, a set of instructions 108,a network 110, a set of bulk-mailing requests 112, multiple mailers 114,mailer computing device 116, uniquely identified print request data118A/118B, a first printing company 120A, a second printing company120B, a logistical node 122, a minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124,physical mail pieces 126A/126B, an aggregated logistical node 128, anaggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130, a list of approvedprinting companies 132, a postal destination database 133, and mailrecipients 134, according to one embodiment.

The mail pre-process server 100 may be a computer and/or a computingdevice on a network (e.g., network 110) that manages network resourcesto enable bulk mailing (e.g., set of bulk-mailing requests 112) to besent by commercial mailers (e.g., banks, credit card companies, utilitycompanies, restaurants, service provider, etc.). In one exampleembodiment, the mail pre-process server 100 may be a computer programdesigned for sharing data and software resources to print 800 physicalmail pieces 126A/126B from a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 frommultiple mailers 114 and enable mailing 806 and final delivery 808 tothe associated destination addresses 206 by availing discounts (e.g.,discounted postal rate 700A/700B) available for a commercial mailer(e.g., multiple mailers 114), according to one embodiment.

The processor 102 may be a logic circuitry that responds to andprocesses the basic instructions to drive the mail pre-process server100 to respond and process the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 frommultiple mailers 114. The memory 104 may be any physical device used forstoring information temporarily and/or permanently for immediate use bythe processor 102 of the mail pre-process server 100, according to oneembodiment.

In an example embodiment, the memory 104 may be a volatile memory thatstores information on an integrated circuit used by the operatingsystem, software, and hardware of the mail pre-process server 100,according to one embodiment.

The network 110 may be a group of two or more computer systems linkedtogether through communication channels (e.g., wired and/or wireless) tofacilitate communication and resource-sharing among a wide range ofusers (e.g., multiple mailers 114) using network media devices of themail pre-process server 100, according to one embodiment. The database106 may be a collection of information that is organized so that it caneasily be accessed, managed, and updated by the processor 102 of themail pre-process server 100, according to one embodiment.

The set of instructions 108 may be a basic set of commands that themicroprocessor of the mail pre-process server 100 understands tofacilitate printing 800 of physical mail pieces 126A/126B from the setof bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers 114. The set ofinstructions 108 may be configured to determine that the set ofbulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers 114 are each associatedwith a digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 associated with destinationaddresses 204. In addition, the set of instructions 108 may beconfigured to determine that the logistical node 122 is associated withcertain ones 206 of the destination addresses 204, according to oneembodiment.

In one more example embodiment, the set of instructions 108 may beconfigured for the processor 102 to wait for the certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122 tosatisfy a minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logisticalnode 122. In yet another example embodiment, the set of instructions 108may be configured for the processor 102 to avail additional discounts(e.g., discounted postal rate 700A/700B) available for the commercialmailer (e.g., logistics provider, bulk mailer, multiple mailers 114)depending on the postage level for a destination center (e.g.,destination addresses 204).

The set of bulk-mailing requests 112 may be solicitation of printing 800and/or mailing 806 of a group of mails consisting of a large number ofidentical items (e.g., circulars, fliers, advertisements, physical mailpieces 126) to be sent to individual addresses at a discounted postalrate 700A/700B (e.g., less than first class rates) and paid for in onelot by the multiple mailers 114, according to one embodiment. Themultiple mailers 114 may be commercial mailers such as banks, creditcard companies, utility companies, restaurants, a man, a woman, a child,etc. seeking to print and send the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 atreduced rates (e.g., discounted postal rate 700A, 700B), according toone embodiment.

The mailer computing device 116 may be a programmable machine respondingto a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner and executeprerecorded instructions used for communication with the mailpre-process server 100 by the multiple mailers 114, according to oneembodiment. The mailer computing device 116 may be a desktop computer, amobile device, a laptop, a tablet, a smart phone, a cellphone, and/or apersonal digital assistants (PDAs), etc.

The uniquely identified print request data 118A/118B may be distinctlyrecognizable details and/or specifics of the print quantity 400A/400B ofphysical mail pieces 126A/126B from the set of bulk-mailing requests 112received from the multiple mailers 114, to be printed from the digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200 with corresponding destination addresses 204and recipient information (e.g., mailing metadata 612). The uniquelyidentified print request data 118A/118B may include the recipientname(s) 616, recipient title(s) 614, recipient address(es) 618,recipient postal codes 620, machine-readable postal barcode(s) 622,pre-stamped date and/or location, and/or pre-canceled date and/orlocation to allow presorting of the bulk mails, according to oneembodiment.

The first printing company 120A and the second printing company 120B maybe any establishment (e.g., agency, institution, organization, company,printshop) selected by the mail pre-process server 100 for reproducingtext and/or artworks (e.g., images) using master form(s) and/ortemplate(s) obtained from the multiple mailers 114. The first printingcompany 120A near to the logistical node 122 may be chosen based on themail-piece characteristics 202 and/or an optimization criteriaassociated with the logistical node 122 when the minimum bulk mailingquantity policy 124 is satisfied by the certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122,according to one embodiment.

The second printing company 120B may be near to the aggregatedlogistical node 128 based on the mail-piece characteristics 202 and/oran optimization criteria associated with the aggregated logistical node128 when the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 issatisfied, according to one embodiment.

The set of instructions 108 may be configured to select the secondprinting company 120B for printing a print quantity 400B when theminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 is unsatisfied by the certainones 206 of the destination addresses 204 associated with the logisticalnode 122, according to one embodiment.

The logistical node 122 may be a post office, a USPS® destination unit,a mail room, a FedEx™ site, a UPS™ site, a transportation node in atransportation network, other logistical sites, etc. It may be ajunction and/or a connecting point relating to the process of planningand organizing the movement and/or flow of physical mail pieces126A/126B, according to one embodiment

The minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 may be a minimum quantityof physical mail pieces 126A/126B processed (e.g., address checked,presorted, placed in bags/pallets, etc.) and mailed together at the samelogistical node 122 while having all corresponding destination addresses204 associated with the logistical node 122, in order to qualify for adiscounted postal rate 700A/700B (e.g., a destination discount such asDDU, DSCF, DADC, DNDC, DFSS, etc.), according to one embodiment.

The minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 may also be a deliberatesystem of principles to guide decisions regarding the optimal quantitiesof postal mail prepared for mailing at reduced postage rates and achieverational outcomes. The minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 may be astatement of intent, and is implemented as a procedure and/or protocolconfigured for determining the most advantageous method and/or route ofmailing the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 sent by the multiplemailers 114, according to one embodiment.

The physical mail pieces 126A/126B may be the actual number of mailsprinted by the printing company 120A/120B from the digital pre-printmail file 200 to be sent to the intended recipients (e.g., mailrecipients 134), according to one embodiment.

A physical mail piece(s) 126A/126B may be a letter in an envelope (e.g.bank statement, credit card statement, utility bills, DMV/IRS or othergovernment communications, etc), a postcard, a coupon/coupon pack, aflyer, a questionnaire, a magazine, a booklet, a book, a promotionalpublication, an item in a small box, a grocery item, a merchandise item,a mail-order item, a parcel of arbitrary shape and size, etc., accordingto one embodiment. The physical mail piece(s) 126A/126B may be a printquantity 400A/400B distributed by the mail pre-process server 100 fromthe digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 to the first printing company120A and/or the second printing company 120B for printing 800, accordingto one embodiment.

The aggregated logistical node 128 may be a junction and/or a connectingpoint formed by combining several separate logistical node(s) (e.g., 122and/or 302) from a geographically proximate logistical area, accordingto one embodiment. The aggregated logistical node 128 may be a USPS®NDC®, SCF®, BMEU®, FSS®, ADC®, a FedEx® Office Ship Center, or a UPS®Store, according to one embodiment.

The aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 may be a minimumquantity of physical mail pieces 126A/126B processed (e.g., addresschecked, presorted, placed in bags/pallets, etc), mailed together at thesame aggregated logistical node 128, and with all correspondingdestination addresses 204 associated with the aggregated logistical node128, in order to qualify for a discounted postal rate 700A/700B (e.g., adestination discount such as DDU, DSCF, DADC, DNDC, DFSS, etc),according to one embodiment.

The aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 may also be astatement of intent, and may be implemented as a procedure and/orprotocol, configured for selecting a second printing company 120B nearto an aggregated logistical node 128 associated with the logistical node122 when the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 is unsatisfied,according to one embodiment.

The list of approved printing companies 132 may be the record ofprinting companies (e.g., first printing company 120A, second printingcompany 120B) stored in the database 106 accepted as satisfactory by themail pre-process server 100, according to one embodiment. The list maybe updated from time to time when the need arises. The postaldestination database 133 may comprise a collection of allowableaddresses with associated logistical nodes (e.g., 122 and 302) andaggregated logistical nodes (e.g., 128) that service the allowableaddresses. The mail recipients 134 may be a person and/or a thing (e.g.,a firm, a P.O. box, an organization, a company, etc.) receiving thephysical mail pieces 126A/126B sent by the multiple mailers 114 usingthe mail pre-process server 100, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1 illustrates that a mail pre-process server 100 may include aprocessor 102, a memory 104, and a database 106. The processor 102 maybe communicatively coupled with a memory 104 and a database 106. Theprocessor 102 may be coupled with the set of instructions 108. Themultiple mailers 114 may use mailer computing device 116 that may becommunicatively coupled with the mail pre-process server 100 through thenetwork 110. The first printing company 120A and the second printingcompany 120B may be communicatively coupled with the mail pre-processserver 100 through the network 110. The logistical node 122 may becoupled with the first printing company 120A. The aggregated logisticalnode 128 may be coupled with the second printing company 120B. The mailrecipients 134 may be coupled with the logistical node 122 and theaggregated logistical node 128, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1 illustrates in circle ‘1’ that a set of bulk-mailing requests 112may be sent to the mail pre-process server 100 by the multiple mailers114 through the network 110 using the mailer computing device 116. Incircle ‘2’, the uniquely identified print request data 118A may be sentby the mail pre-process server 100 to the first printing company 120Athrough the network 110. In circle ‘3’, the uniquely identified printrequest data 118B may be sent by the mail pre-process server 100 to thesecond printing company 120B through the network 110. In circle ‘4’, thephysical mail pieces 126A may be sent to the mail recipients 134 by thelogistical node 122 based on minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124.In circle ‘5’, the physical mail pieces 126B may be sent to the mailrecipients 134 by the aggregated logistical node 128 based on aggregateminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram 250 of the set of bulk-mailing requests 112with associated digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 and destinationaddresses 204 received by the mail pre-process server 100 of FIG. 1 ,according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 2 builds on FIG. 1 and further adds a digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200, a mail-piece characteristics 202, adestination addresses 204, a certain ones 206, and a distance metric208.

In an example embodiment, the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 mayinclude the digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 associated with thedestination addresses 204. The certain ones of the destination addresses204 may be associated with the logistical node 122. The certain ones ofthe destination addresses 204 may be associated with the logistical node122 according to the postal destination database 133 and/or the distancemetric 208.

The digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 may specify the physical mailpiece(s) 126A/126B to be printed, with areas on the physical mail pieces126A/126B designated for insertion of recipient information (e.g.,mailing metadata 612). The recipient information may include recipientname 616, recipient title 614, recipient address 618, postal code 620,postal barcode 622, account info, message, images, web page URL, etc. Itmay contain both text and artwork. It may be in color. It may be in aformat used by the printing industry and/or the bulk mailing industry,according to one embodiment.

The digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 may be a Zip™ file, a Tar™ file,a Rar™ file, or other file-archiving file containing more than onefiles. The digital pre-print mail file 200 may be a resource for storingauxiliary information from the multiple mailers 114 to the mailpre-process server 100, and/or from the mail pre-process server 100 tothe printing company 120A/120B. The auxiliary information may includepre-conditions (e.g., mailing date constraint, mailing time constraint,location related constraint, time zone constraint, printing requirement,packaging requirement, handling requirement, flexibility for waiting,etc.) associated with the set of bulk-mailing requests 112, according toone embodiment.

In an example embodiment, the digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 mayenable the mail pre-process server 100 to determine the association ofthe set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers 114 withdestination addresses 204, according to one embodiment. In anotherexample embodiment, the digital pre-print mail file 200 may have certainconditions that might allow availing additional discounts (e.g., usingdiscounted postal rate 700A/700B of the mail pre-process server 100) forthe multiple mailers 114.

The mail-piece characteristic(s) 202 may be an attribute and/or featureof the most basic component of any mailing. The mail-piececharacteristic(s) 202 may include mail type (letters, cards, flats,parcel, etc), weight class (1 oz, 2 oz, 3 oz, 3.3 oz, 3.5 oz, etc),physical measurement (height, length, width, thickness), paper type(offset, cover, text, writing, newsprint, laser, book, index, ledger,Vellum Bristol, coated, uncoated, etc), paper weight (50 lb, 60 lb, 70lb, 80 lb, 100 lb, etc), paper color (white, pink, canary, green, blue,gray, etc), paper uses (business forms, flyers, books, mailers, etc),machineable/nonmachinable, automation, presorted, first-classmail/standard mail, saturation, address checked, address corrected,profit/nonprofit, carrier route, etc, according to one embodiment.

The mail-piece characteristic(s) 202 may enable determination ofassociation of logistical node 122 with the certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204. Also, the mail-piece characteristic(s) 202may enable sorting of mail according to postal address, networkdistribution center (NDC), sectional center facility SCF, delivery unitDU, carrier route and/or carrier walk sequence and/or putting intoappropriate containers, according to one embodiment

The destination addresses 204 may be the locations and/or places towhich the physical mail pieces 126A/126B from the set of bulk-mailingrequests 112 are to be sent by the multiple mailers 114. The destinationaddresses 204 may include a country name, a state/province name, a cityname, a street name, a street number, a floor number, an apartmentnumber or unit number, a P.O. box number, a postal code and/or a barcode. The postal code may be a series of letters and digits. The postalcode may be a Postal code with 5 digits, 9 digits, 11 digits and/orother number of digits and letters, according to one embodiment.

The certain ones 206 may be the specific nodes of the destinationaddresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122 based onmail-piece characteristic(s) 202, a distance metric 208, and/or postaldestination database 133.

In one example embodiment, the set of instructions 108 executed throughthe processor 102 of the mail pre-process server 100 may determine thatthe set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers 114 are eachassociated with the digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 associated withdestination addresses 204.

The distance metric 208 of the mail pre-process server 100 may be afunction that defines a physical distance between two elements (e.g.,two destination addresses, two logistical nodes, a destination addressand a logistical node, a destination address(es) 204 and an aggregatedlogistical node 128, a printing company 120A/120B and a logistical node122, a printing company 120A/120B and an aggregated logistical node 128,and/or a logistical node 122 and an aggregated logistical node 128),according to one embodiment. The distance metric may also be a functionthat defines a geodesic distance between two elements, according to oneembodiment.

The postal destination database 133 of the mail pre-process server 100may be a collection of valid destination addresses (e.g., destinationaddresses 204) and the corresponding associated logistical node(s) 122.Such a postal destination database 133 may allow easy look-up. Sometimesa destination address(s) 204 may be invalid such that the correspondingphysical mail piece(s) 126A/126B may not be delivered and thecorresponding effort wasted. The validity of a destination address(s)204 may be checked in the postal destination database 133, according toone embodiment.

A destination address(es) 204 may be associated with the nearestlogistical node 122 with respect to the distance metric 208, accordingto one embodiment. A destination address(es) 204 may also be associatedwith a logistical node 122 according to the postal destination database133, according to one embodiment. Alternatively, the destinationaddresses 204 may be associated with more than one logistical node 122,according to one embodiment

FIG. 3 is a schematic view 350 illustrating portions 300A/300B/308/310of destination addresses 204 in the uniquely identified print requestdata 118A/118B directed to a first printing company 120A and/or a secondprinting company 120B of the mail pre-process server 100 of FIG. 1 ,according to one embodiment.

In one example embodiment, the set of instructions 108 may determinewhether the certain ones 206 of the destination addresses 204 associatedwith the logistical node 122 satisfies the minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 124 of the logistical node 122. When the minimum bulk mailingquantity policy 124 is satisfied by the certain ones 206, a portion 300Aof the certain ones 206 may be directed to the first printing company120A in the uniquely identified print request data 118A, with theportion 300A sufficiently large to satisfy the minimum bulk mailingquantity policy 124. The portion 300A may contain a bare minimum amountto satisfy the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124.

When the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logistical node122 is unsatisfied or otherwise, the set of instructions 108 may choosea portion 300B of the certain ones 206 for the aggregated logisticalnode 128 which may be directed to the second printing company 120B inthe uniquely identified print request data 118B, with the portion 300Blarge enough to satisfy the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 130, according to one embodiment.

The portion 300B may not be large enough to satisfy the aggregateminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130. The portion 300B may becombined with portions (e.g., 308) from other logistical nodes (e.g.,302) to form a print quantity 400B large enough to satisfy the aggregateminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130. The other logistical node(s)302 associated with the aggregated logistical node 128 may be associatedwith other certain ones 306 of destination addresses 204. Some portion308 of the other certain ones 306 may be chosen for the aggregatedlogistical node 128. The portions (e.g., 300B and 308) for theaggregated logistical node 128 may be combined. The combination ofportions 310 may be large enough to satisfy the aggregate minimum bulkmailing quantity policy 130. The combination of portions 310 may bedirected to the second printing company 120B in the uniquely identifiedprint request data 118B, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram 450 of the uniquely identified print requestdata 118A/118B sent by the mail pre-process server 100 to the firstprinting company 120A and/or the second printing company 120B, accordingto one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 4 builds on FIGS. 1 through 3 , and further addsprint quantity 400A and print quantity 400B. The print quantity 400A maybe the measure of number of physical mail pieces 126A to be printed bythe first printing company 120A using the digital preprint mail file(s)200. The print quantity 400B may be the measure of physical mail pieces126B to be printed by the second printing company 120B using the digitalpreprint mail file(s) 200, according to one embodiment.

The uniquely identified print request data 118A may include the digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200 to be printed by the first printing company120A based on the mail-piece characteristics 202 and an optimizationcriteria associated with the logistical node 122. The uniquelyidentified print request data 118A may also define the print quantity400A to include the portions for logistical node 300A satisfying theminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logistical node 122,according to one embodiment.

Further, the uniquely identified print request data 118B may include thedigital pre-print mail file(s) 200 to be printed by the second printingcompany 120B based on the mail-piece characteristics 202 and anoptimization criteria associated with the aggregated logistical node128. The uniquely identified print request data 118B may also define theprint quantity 400B to include the portions for aggregated logisticalnode 300B and the portions for aggregated logistical node 308 with theprint quantity 400B satisfying the aggregate minimum bulk mailingquantity policy 130 of the aggregated logistical node 128, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the processing instruction500A/500B, delivery instruction 502A/502B, and mailing instruction504A/504B in the uniquely identified print request data 118A/118B of themail pre-process server 100 of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 5 builds on FIGS. 1 through 4 , and further adds theprocessing instruction 500A/500B, the delivery instruction 502A/502B,and the mailing instruction 504A/504B in the uniquely identified printrequest data 118A/118B, in one example embodiment.

The processing instruction 500A/500B may be a directive to print andprocess the physical mail pieces 126A/126B from the certain ones 206 ofthe destination addresses 204 based on a processing requirement. Theprocessing may include combining several printed pieces (e.g., coupons,flyers, advertisements) into one physical mail piece (e.g., 126A/126B).The processing instruction 500A/500B may include packaging of thephysical mail pieces 126A/126B for delivery and mailing. The processinginstruction 500A/500B may enable presorting and placing of physical mailpieces 126A/126B into containers by some order, according to oneembodiment. The processing requirement may include certification ofmailing list accuracy and/or freshness (e.g., correct postal codes,purging of stale addresses, processing of change-of-addressnotifications) of the mails, according to one embodiment.

The delivery instruction 502A/502B may be a directive to deliver thephysical mail pieces 126A/126B to the intended addressee (e.g., mailrecipients 134), according to one embodiment. The delivery instruction502A/502B may include packaging of physical mail pieces 126A/126B toboxes, bags, pallets, trays, or other containers for delivery and/ormailing. The delivery instruction 502A/502B may include fragilehandling. The mailing instruction 504A/504B may be a directive to causeto mail the physical mail pieces 126A at discounted postal rate(s)700A/700B associated with one of the minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 124 associated with the logistical node 122 and the aggregateminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 associated with the aggregatedlogistical node 128, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view 650 of the processing instruction 500A/500Bin the uniquely identified print request data 118A/118B of the mailpre-process server 100 of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.Particularly, FIG. 5 builds on FIGS. 1 through 5 , and further adds asorting 602, a stamping 604, a cancelling 606, a packaging 608, aprinting 610, a mailing metadata 612, a recipient title 614, a recipientname 616, a recipient address 618, a postal code 620, and a postalbarcode 622, according to one embodiment.

The sorting 602 may be the process of placing the physical mail pieces126A/126B from a collection in some kind of order based on a processingrequirement. The sorting 602 may be with respect to the postal code 620which may contain 5 digits, 9 digits, or more, or a combination ofdigits and letters (e.g., Canadian postal code with 3 letters and 3digits). The sorting 602 may be with respect to carrier paths (e.g., inUSPS), or with respect to an order in a carrier path (e.g., in USPS).The sorting 602 of the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 may allow foravailing additional discounts for physical mail pieces 126A/126B to beapplied based on the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 and/or theaggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130, according to oneembodiment.

The stamping 604 may be the process of attaching postage stamps orequivalents on the physical mail pieces 126A/126B. The cancelling 606may be the process applying postal markings on the postage stamps orpostal stationeries on the physical mail pieces to deface the stamp andprevent its re-use, according to one embodiment.

The packaging 608 may be the process of enclosing and/or protecting thephysical mail pieces 126A/126B for distribution, mailing, storage, sale,and/or use. The printing 610 may be the process of reproducing text andimages using a master form and/or template (e.g., in the digitalpre-print mail files 200), according to one embodiment. The mailingmetadata 612 may be a set of individualized data associated with themail recipients 134 that may be printed on the physical mail pieces126A/126B. The mailing metadata 612 may include a recipient title 614, arecipient name 616, a recipient address 618, a postal code 620, and apostal barcode 622 of the intended addressee (e.g., mail recipients134), according to one embodiment.

The recipient title 614 may be a prefix or a suffix added to therecipient name. The recipient title 614 may comprise Mr, Mrs, Ms, Miss,Madam, Mx, Master, Hon. The recipient title 614 may reflect job titlessuch as King, Queen, President, Prince, Princess, Lord, Sir, Emperor,Governor, Senator, Representative, Ambassador, Mayor, Judge, Doctor, Dr,Professor, Inspector, Private, Sergeant, General, Major, Detective,Pope, Father, Pastor, etc. The recipient title 614 may reflect therecipient's role in a family tree such as uncle, aunty, grandpa,grandma, senior, junior, I, II, III, IV, etc. The recipient name 616 mayThe recipient name 616 may include a first name, a middle name, a lastname, according to one embodiment.

The postal code 620 may be a series of letters and/or digits, sometimesincluding spaces or punctuation, included in a postal address for thepurpose of sorting mail. The postal barcode 622 may be an opticalmachine-readable code in the form a series of parallel lines withvarying width and spacing. The postal barcode 622 may also berectangles, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns arrangedspatially in two dimensions (2D), according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram 750 illustrating the mailing instruction 504Ato cause to mail the physical mail pieces 126A/126B at discounted postalrate(s) 700A/700B associated with the minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 124 and/or the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130of the logistical node 122 and/or aggregated logistical node 128 of mailpre-process server 100 of FIG. 1 .

Particularly, FIG. 7 builds on FIGS. 1 through 6 , and further addsdiscounted postal rate(s) 700A and discounted postal rate(s) 700B. Themailing instruction 504A/504B may include directives to apply discountedpostal rate(s) 700A/700B to the physical mail pieces 126A/126A whereinthe discounted postal rate(s) 700A/700B may be available when theminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logistical node 122and/or the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 of theaggregated logistical node 128 are satisfied. The discounted postalrate(s) 700A/700B may be the prices charged for mailing the physicalmail pieces 126A/126B associated with one of the minimum bulk mailingquantity policy 124 associated with one of the logistical node 122and/or the aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 associatedwith one of the aggregated logistical node 128. The discounted postalrate(s) 700A/700B may be based on the mailing requirement 504A/504B,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram 850 illustrating the typical mailflow of printing 800, processing 802, delivery 804, mailing 806, andfinal delivery 808 of the physical mail pieces 126A/126B with/without adelivery company (e.g., 810A/810B) associated with the logistical node122 and/or the associated aggregated logistical node 128 of the mailpre-process server of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 8 builds on FIGS. 1 through 7 and further adds aprinting 800, processing 802, delivering 804, mailing 806, finaldelivery 808, a first delivery company 810A, and a second deliverycompany 810B, according to one embodiment. The printing 800 may be theprocess of reproducing text and images according to some master form(s)and/or template(s) of the digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 of the mailpre-process server 100 according to the processing instructions500A/500B, according to one embodiment.

The processing 802 may be a series of operations and/or functionsexecuted to prepare the physical mail pieces 126A/126B for delivering804, mailing 806 and final delivery 808 to the mail recipients 134according to the processing instructions 500A/500B. The processing 802may include sorting 602, stamping 604, cancelling 606, packaging 608,and printing 610 of the mailing metadata 612. The processing 802 mayenable presorting and placing of the physical mail pieces 126A/126B intocontainers by some order, according to one embodiment.

The delivering 804 may be the transporting of the physical mail pieces126A/126B (e.g., a letter, parcel, and/or goods) from the first printingcompany 120A to the logistical node 122 and/or from the second printingcompany 120B to the aggregated logistical node 128 according to thedelivery instructions 502A/502B, according to one embodiment

The mailing 806 may be the dropping and mailing of the physical mailpieces 126A/126B (e.g., a letter, parcel, and/or goods) at thelogistical node 122 and/or the aggregated logistical node 128 by theprinting company (e.g., first printing company 120A, second printingcompany 120B) and/or the delivery company (e.g., first delivery company810A, second delivery company 810B) of the mail pre-process server 100,according to one embodiment.

The final delivery 808 may be the actual handing over of the physicalmail pieces 126A/126B to the intended addressee (e.g., mail recipients134) of the multiple mailers 114 by the postal system (e.g. USPS, FedEx,UPS, etc) associated with the logistical node 122 and the aggregatedlogistical node 128, according to one embodiment.

The delivery company 810 may be any entity (e.g., a firm, anorganization, and/or an establishment) associated with one of thelogistical node 122 and/or the associated aggregated logistical node 128designated for transporting the physical mail pieces 126A/126B to thelogistical node 122 and/or the aggregated logistical node 128, accordingto one embodiment.

In one example embodiment, in circle ‘4’, the typical mail flow mayinclude the physical mail pieces 126A/126B being transported from theprinting company 120A/120B to the logistical node 122 and/or theaggregated logistical node 128, by either the printing company 120A/120Bor a dedicated delivery company 810A/810B. While the printing 800 indone at the printing company 120A/120B, the processing 802, delivering804, and mailing 806 of the physical mail pieces 126A may be done byeither the printing company 120A/120B or the delivery company 810A/810B.

FIG. 9 is a network view 950 illustrating the selection of a deliverycompany 810A/810B for delivering 804 the physical mail pieces 126A/126Bbased on a uniquely identified delivery request data 900A/900B receivedfrom the mail pre-process server 100, according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 9 builds on FIGS. 1 through 8 , and further addsuniquely identified delivery request data 900A/900B. The uniquelyidentified delivery request data 900A/900B may be the distribution ofthe delivery information to the delivery company 810A/810B. The deliveryinformation may include the details of the delivery source (e.g., theprinting companies 120A/120B), the details of delivery destination(e.g., the logistical node 122, the aggregated logistical node 128), thedetails of the payload to be delivered (e.g., the print quantity400A/400B of physical mail pieces 126A/126B to be delivered, and themail piece characteristics 202.)

In circle ‘1’, a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 may be sent to themail pre-process server 100 by the multiple mailers 114 through thenetwork 110 using the mailer computing device 116. In circle ‘2’, theuniquely identified print request data 118A may be sent by the mailpre-process server 100 to the first printing company 120A through thenetwork 110. In circle ‘3’, the uniquely identified print request data118B may be sent by the mail pre-process server 100 to the secondprinting company 120B through the network 110, according to oneembodiment.

In circle ‘4’, the physical mail pieces 126A/126B may be delivered 804from the printing company 120A/120B to the logistical node 122 and/orthe aggregated logistical node 128 according to a delivery instruction502A/502B and mailed 806 according to some mailing instruction 504A/504Bfollowed by the final delivery 808 to the mail recipients 134, accordingto one embodiment. In circle ‘5’, the uniquely identified deliveryrequest data 900A may be sent by the mail pre-process server 100 to thefirst delivery company 810A through the network 110. In circle ‘6’, theuniquely identified delivery data 900B may be sent by the mailpre-process server 100 to the second delivery company 810B through thenetwork 110, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a status communication network view 1050 of the mailpre-process server 100 of FIG. 1 illustrating the communication of a setof bulk-mailing request status 1008 to respective ones of the multiplemailers 114, according to one embodiment. Particularly, FIG. 10 buildson FIGS. 1 through 9 , and further adds status 1000 and 1002 from theprinting company 120A and 120B, status 1004 and 1006 from the deliverycompany 810A/810B and a set of bulk mailing requests status 1008 to thecorresponding ones of the multiple mailers 134, according to oneembodiment.

The status 1000, 1002, 1004, and 1006 may be the present situationand/or condition of the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 at a particularpoint of time. The set of bulk mailing requests status 1008 may be theprocess of communicating the status 1000, 1002, 1004, and 1006 of theset of bulk-mailing requests 112 to respective ones of the multiplemailers 114 based on the uniquely identified print request data118A/118B. The set of bulk mailing requests status 1008 may be based ona stage of printing 800, processing 802, delivery 804, and mailing 806,according to one embodiment.

In circle ‘a’, the first printing company 120A may send the status 1000of the physical mail pieces 126A to the mail pre-process server 100through the network 110. In circle ‘b’, the second printing company 120Bmay send the status 1002 of the physical mail pieces 126B to the mailpre-process server 100 through the network 110. In circle ‘c’, the firstdelivery company 810A may send the status 1004 of the physical mailpieces 126A to the mail pre-process server 100 through the network 110.In circle ‘d’, the second delivery company 810B may send the status 1006of the physical mail pieces 126B to the mail pre-process server 100through the network 110. In circle ‘e’, the mail pre-process server 100may consolidate and send the set of bulk mailing request status 1008 tothe respective ones (e.g., multiple mailers 114) through the network110, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a critical path view 1150A illustrating a flow based on timein which critical operations of the mail pre-process server 100 of FIG.1 are established, according to one embodiment. In operation 1102,multiple mailers 114 may send a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 to themail pre-process server 100. In operation 1104, the mail pre-processserver 100 may determine that a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 frommultiple mailers 114 are each associated with a digital pre-print mailfile 200 associated with destination addresses 204, according to oneembodiment.

In operation 1106, the mail pre-process server 100 may determine that alogistical node 122 is associated with certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 based on one of a mail-piece characteristics202, a distance metric 208, and a postal destination database 133,according to one embodiment. In operation 1108, the mail pre-processserver 100 may determine whether the certain ones 206 of the destinationaddresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122 satisfies aminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logistical node 122,according to one embodiment.

In operation 1110, the mail pre-process server 100 may select a firstprinting company 120A near to the logistical node 122 based on one ofthe mail-piece characteristic(s) 202, and/or an optimization criteriaassociated with the logistical node 122 when the minimum bulk mailingquantity policy 124 is satisfied, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11B is a critical path view 1150B which is a continuation of thecritical path view 1150A of FIG. 11A of the mail pre-process server 100of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment. In operation 1112, the mailpre-process server 100 may select a second printing company 120B near toan aggregated logistical node 128 associated with the logistical node122 for which an aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 130 issatisfied based on one of the mail-piece characteristic(s) 202, and/oran optimization criteria associated with the aggregated logistical node128 when the minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 is unsatisfied,according to one embodiment.

In operation 1114, the mail pre-process server 100 may distribute auniquely identified print request data 118A/118B to either one of thefirst printing company 120A and/or the second printing company 120B toprint a print quantity 400A/400B of physical mail pieces 126A/126B fromthe digital pre-print mail file(s) 200. In operation 1116, the uniquelyidentified print request data 118A may define the print quantity 400Athat is a portion 300A of the certain ones 206 of the destinationaddresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122 near to the firstprinting company 120A, with the portion 300A satisfying the minimum bulkmailing quantity policy 124, according to one embodiment.

In operation 1118, the uniquely identified print request data 118B maydefine the print quantity 400B that is another portion 300B of thecertain ones 206 of the destination addresses 204 associated with theaggregated logistical node 128 near to the second printing company 120B,with the another portion 300B satisfying the aggregate minimum bulkmailing quantity policy 130, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a process flow to select a printing company120A/120B for the set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiple mailers114 based on the satisfaction of the minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 124 of the logistical node 122 of the mail pre-process server 100of FIG. 1 , according to one embodiment.

In operation 1202, the set of instructions 108 executed through theprocessor 102 of the mail pre-process server 100 using the memory 104may determine that a set of bulk-mailing requests 112 from multiplemailers 114 are each associated with a digital pre-print mail file(s)200 associated with the destination addresses 204, according to oneembodiment.

In operation 1204, the set of instructions 108 may determine that alogistical node 122 is associated with certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204. In operation 1206, the set of instructions108 may further determine whether the certain ones 206 of thedestination addresses 204 associated with the logistical node 122satisfies a minimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the logisticalnode 122, according to one embodiment.

In operation 1208, the set of instructions 108 may determine whether theminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 is satisfied. If the minimumbulk mailing quantity policy 124 is satisfied in operation 1208, the setof instructions 108 may select in operation 1210 a first printingcompany 120A near to the logistical node 122. If the minimum bulkmailing quantity policy 124 is unsatisfied in operation 1208, the set ofinstructions 108 may select in operation 1212 a second printing company120B near to an aggregated logistical node 128 associated with thelogistical node 122 for which an aggregate minimum bulk mailing quantitypolicy 130 is satisfied, according to one embodiment.

In operation 1214, the set of instructions 108 may distribute a uniquelyidentified print request data 118A/118B to the first printing company120A and/or the second printing company 120B to print a print quantity400A/400B of physical mail pieces 126A/126B from the digital pre-printmail file(s) 200, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of specific computing device 1380 and aspecific mobile computing device 1330 that can be used to perform and/orimplement any of the embodiments disclosed herein. In one or moreembodiments, the mail pre-process server 100 and/or the mailer computingdevice(s) 116 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be the specific computing device1300.

The specific computing device 1300 may represent various forms ofdigital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personaldigital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and/or otherappropriate computers. The specific mobile computing device 1330 mayrepresent various forms of mobile devices, such as smartphones, cameraphones, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, and othersimilar mobile devices. The components shown here, their connections,couples, and relationships, and their functions, are meant to beexemplary only, and are not meant to limit the embodiments describedand/or claimed, according to one embodiment.

The specific computing device 1300 may include a processor 1302, amemory 1304, a storage device 1306, a high speed interface 1308 coupledto the memory 1304 and a plurality of high speed expansion ports 1310,and a low speed interface 1312 coupled to a low speed bus 1314 and astorage device 1306. In one embodiment, each of the componentsheretofore may be inter-coupled using various buses, and may be mountedon a common motherboard and/or in other manners as appropriate. Theprocessor 1302 may process instructions for execution in the specificcomputing device 1300, including instructions stored in the memory 1304and/or on the storage device 1306 to display a graphical information fora GUI on an external input/output device, such as a display unit 1316coupled to the high speed interface 1308, according to one embodiment.

In other embodiments, multiple processors and/or multiple buses may beused, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and/or types ofmemory. Also, a plurality of computing device 1300 may be coupled with,with each device providing portions of the necessary operations (e.g.,as a server bank, a group of blade servers, and/or a multi-processorsystem).

The memory 1304 may be coupled to the specific computing device 1300. Inone embodiment, the memory 1304 may be a volatile memory. In anotherembodiment, the memory 1304 may be a non-volatile memory. The memory1304 may also be another form of computer-readable medium, such as amagnetic and/or an optical disk. The storage device 1306 may be capableof providing mass storage for the specific computing device 1300. In oneembodiment, the storage device 1306 may be includes a floppy diskdevice, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a tape device, aflash memory and/or other similar solid state memory device. In anotherembodiment, the storage device 1306 may be an array of the devices in acomputer-readable medium previously mentioned heretofore,computer-readable medium, such as, and/or an array of devices, includingdevices in a storage area network and/or other configurations.

A computer program may be comprised of instructions that, when executed,perform one or more methods, such as those described above. Theinstructions may be stored in the memory 1304, the storage device 1306,a memory coupled to the processor 1302, and/or a propagated signal.

The high speed interface 1308 may manage bandwidth-intensive operationsfor the specific computing device 1300, while the low speed interface1312 may manage lower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation offunctions is exemplary only. In one embodiment, the high speed interface1308 may be coupled to the memory 1304, the display unit 1316 (e.g.,through a graphics processor and/or an accelerator), and to theplurality of high speed expansion ports 1310, which may accept variousexpansion cards.

In the embodiment, the low speed interface 1312 may be coupled to thestorage device 1306 and the low speed bus 1314. The low speed bus 1314may be comprised of a wired and/or wireless communication port (e.g., aUniversal Serial Bus (“USB”), a Bluetooth® port, an Ethernet port,and/or a wireless Ethernet port). The low speed bus 1314 may also becoupled to the scan unit 1328, a printer 1326, a keyboard, a mouse 1324,and a networking device (e.g., a switch and/or a router) through anetwork adapter.

The specific computing device 1300 may be implemented in a number ofdifferent forms, as shown in the figure. In one embodiment, thecomputing device 1300 may be implemented as a standard server 1318and/or a group of such servers. In another embodiment, the specificcomputing device 1300 may be implemented as part of a rack server system1322. In yet another embodiment, the specific computing device 1300 maybe implemented as a general computer 1320 such as a laptop or desktopcomputer. Alternatively, a component from the specific computing device1300 may be combined with another component in a specific mobilecomputing device 1330. In one or more embodiments, an entire system maybe made up of a plurality of specific computing device 1300 and/or aplurality of specific computing device 1300 coupled to a plurality ofspecific mobile computing device 1330.

In one embodiment, the specific mobile computing device 1330 may includea mobile compatible processor 1332, a mobile compatible memory 1334, andan input/output device such as a mobile display 1346, a communicationinterface 1352, and a transceiver 1338, among other components. Thespecific mobile computing device 1330 may also be provided with astorage device, such as a microdrive or other device, to provideadditional storage. In one embodiment, the components indicatedheretofore are inter-coupled using various buses, and several of thecomponents may be mounted on a common motherboard.

The mobile compatible processor 1332 may execute instructions in thespecific mobile computing device 1330, including instructions stored inthe mobile compatible memory 1334. The mobile compatible processor 1332may be implemented as a chipset of chips that include separate andmultiple analog and digital processors. The mobile compatible processor1332 may provide, for example, for coordination of the other componentsof the specific mobile computing device 1330, such as control of userinterfaces, applications run by the specific mobile computing device1330, and wireless communication by the specific mobile computing device1330.

The mobile compatible processor 1332 may communicate with a user throughthe control interface 1336 and the display interface 1344 coupled to amobile display 1346. In one embodiment, the mobile display 1346 may be aThin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (“TFT LCD”), an OrganicLight Emitting Diode (“OLED”) display, and another appropriate displaytechnology. The display interface 1344 may comprise appropriatecircuitry for driving the mobile display 1346 to present graphical andother information to a user. The control interface 1336 may receivecommands from a user and convert them for submission to the mobilecompatible processor 1332.

In addition, an external interface 1342 may be provide in communicationwith the mobile compatible processor 1332, so as to enable near areacommunication of the specific mobile computing device 1330 with otherdevices. External interface 1342 may provide, for example, for wiredcommunication in some embodiments, or for wireless communication inother embodiments, and multiple interfaces may also be used.

The mobile compatible memory 1334 may be coupled to the specific mobilecomputing device 1330. The mobile compatible memory 1334 may beimplemented as a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. Theexpansion memory 1358 may also be coupled to the specific mobilecomputing device 1330 through the expansion interface 1356, which maycomprise, for example, a Single In Line Memory Module (“SIMM”) cardinterface. The expansion memory 1358 may provide extra storage space forthe specific mobile computing device 1330, or may also store anapplication or other information for the specific mobile computingdevice 1330.

Specifically, the expansion memory 1358 may comprise instructions tocarry out the processes described above. The expansion memory 1358 mayalso comprise secure information. For example, the expansion memory 1358may be provided as a security module for the specific mobile computingdevice 1330, and may be programmed with instructions that permit secureuse of the specific mobile computing device 1330. In addition, a secureapplication may be provided on the SIMM card, along with additionalinformation, such as placing identifying information on the SIMM card ina non-hackable manner.

The mobile compatible memory may include a volatile memory (e.g., aflash memory) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., a non-volatilerandom-access memory (“NVRAM”)). In one embodiment, a computer programcomprises a set of instructions that, when executed, perform one or moremethods. The set of instructions may be stored on the mobile compatiblememory 1334, the expansion memory 1358, a memory coupled to the mobilecompatible processor 1332, and a propagated signal that may be received,for example, over the transceiver 1338 and/or the external interface1342.

The specific mobile computing device 1330 may communicate wirelesslythrough the communication interface 1352, which may be comprised of adigital signal processing circuitry. The communication interface 1352may provide for communications using various modes and/or protocols,such as, a Global System for Mobile Communications (“GSM”) protocol, aShort Message Service (“SMS”) protocol, an Enhanced Messaging System(“EMS”) protocol, a Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”) protocol, aCode Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) protocol, Time Division MultipleAccess (“TDMA”) protocol, a Personal Digital Cellular (“PDC”) protocol,a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (“WCDMA”) protocol, a CDMA2000protocol, and a General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”) protocol.

Such communication may occur, for example, through the transceiver 1338(e.g., radio-frequency transceiver). In addition, short-rangecommunication may occur, such as using a Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, and/or othersuch transceiver. In addition, a GPS (“Global Positioning System”)receiver module 1354 may provide additional navigation-related andlocation-related wireless data to the specific mobile computing device1330, which may be used as appropriate by a software application runningon the specific mobile computing device 1330.

The specific mobile computing device 1330 may also communicate audiblyusing an audio codec 1340, which may receive spoken information from auser and convert it to usable digital information. The audio codec 1340may likewise generate audible sound for a user, such as through aspeaker (e.g., in a handset smartphone of the specific mobile computingdevice 1330). Such a sound may comprise a sound from a voice telephonecall, a recorded sound (e.g., a voice message, a music files, etc.) andmay also include a sound generated by an application operating on thespecific mobile computing device 1330.

The specific mobile computing device 1330 may be implemented in a numberof different forms, as shown in the figure. In one embodiment, thespecific mobile computing device 1330 may be implemented as a smartphone1348. In another embodiment, the specific mobile computing device 1330may be implemented as a personal digital assistant (“PDA”). In yetanother embodiment, the specific mobile computing device, 1330 may beimplemented as a tablet device 1350.

An example embodiment will now be described. The SewTextile Inc. may beactive in manufacturing fashionable and affordable clothing through itsproduction facility situated in Lewiston, Me. The SewTextile Inc. mayhave varied range of consumers, individual as well as retail storechains, purchasing its products. The SewTextile Inc. consumers may belocated in segregated geographical areas requiring it to send itsproducts to remote places through mail. The SewTextile Inc. may be usingpostal mail services of leading logistic provider, FredsMail Corp., forsending its bulk mail orders to its consumers.

The FredsMail Corp., may be offering discounts to its clients on theirbulk mailing orders based on its various preset criteria includingminimum number of goods, weight limits, ability of FredsMail Corp. toprocess the goods by machine, etc. For availing discounts in postalcharges of its mail, the SewTextile Inc. may have to fulfill thesepreset criteria set by the FredsMail Corp. Due to its varying consumerinterests and their locations, the SewTextile Inc. may be failing tofulfill a few of preset criteria set by the FredsMail Corp. resultinginto non-applicability of the discount rates offered by FredsMail Corp.to its mail, making it an unsatisfied customer of FredsMail Corp. due toloss of its revenue in logistics.

In order to win its customer satisfaction back, the FredsMail Corp. mayhave decided to use the technology described herein using variousembodiments of FIGS. 1-13 . The use of technologies described in variousembodiments of FIGS. 1-13 enabled FredsMail Corp. to presort (e.g.,using sorting 602 of the mail pre-process server 100) the mail orders ofSewTextile Inc. and place it in the containers by order (e.g., usingpackaging 608 of the mail pre-process server 100). The FredsMail Corp.may now be able to offer additional discounts to the SewTextile Inc.,due to reduction in transportation and distribution cost, for both itsbulk orders and piecewise.

The use of technologies described in various embodiments of FIGS. 1-13allowed FredsMail Corp. reduce its logistics handling costs withoutrequiring to ship its bulk mail orders to corresponding DNDC, DSCFand/or the DDU. The FredsMail Corp. may now be able to offer significantdestination discounts (e.g., using minimum bulk mailing quantity policy124 of the mail pre-process server 100) to SewTextile Inc. Thus,SewTextile Inc. may now be a happy customer. In addition, the SewTextileInc.'s may have increased its bulk mail orders to FredsMail Corp.resulting in more revenue and profit for FredsMail Corp.

Another example embodiment will now be described. Jane Smith, anindividual, desires to order 100 Greeting Cards from an onlinestore-front. Jane Smith selects from a variety of pre-defined templatesand uploads the name and addresses of the recipients that will receivethe cards. Jane Smith selects the options to mail the 100 Greeting Cardsusing the USPS® and will pay non-discounted First-Class® postage withoutthe use of the technologies described in the various embodiments ofFIGS. 1-13 .

The online store-front using the technologies described in variousembodiments of FIGS. 1-13 is able to provide Jane Smith with bulkmailing discounts because of the technologies described in variousembodiments of FIGS. 1-13 . Jane Smith does not know that there may be1,000 other individuals ordering the same, pre-defined Greeting Card orother type of print media with the same mail piece characteristics.These mail pieces will be combined with other like mail pieces with thesame mail piece characteristics 202 via the digital pre-print mail files200 and sent to the first printing company 120A or second printingcompany 120B in the approved network for mailing 806 at the nearestlogistical node 122 for the lowest discounted postal rate 700A/700B withthe deepest postal discounts.

Without the technologies described in various embodiments of FIGS. 1-13a physical vehicle or other transportation method, such as a logisticcompany with freight trucks, must pick up the physical mail pieces andpossibly drive across country Jane Smith's 100 Greeting Cards, alongwith the other 1,000 different individual orders and associated mailpieces across the nation, to obtain the same discounts, which isphysically impossible and inefficient.

Another example embodiment will now be described. ACME Logistics Companymay be a service provider offering logistics solutions for commercialmailing to its users. For its bulk mailing orders, the ACME LogisticsCompany may have to print large quantities of mail pieces with correctpost addresses and machine-readable barcode requiring use of itsvaluable resources. The ACME Logistics Company may not be able to handleits bulk mail orders efficiently due to use of traditional methods ofmailing.

To increase its efficiency in handling bulk mail orders, the ACMELogistics Company may have decided to invest in the technologiesdescribed in various embodiments of FIGS. 1-13 . With use oftechnologies described in various embodiments of FIGS. 1-13 , the ACMELogistics Company may now be able to subcontract printing of its largequantity of mail pieces to a certified local printer (e.g., usingminimum bulk mailing quantity policy 124 of the mail pre-process server100) to have the post address and machine-readable barcode pre-printed(e.g., using mailing metadata 612 of the mail pre-process server 100) onits mail pieces.

The ACME Logistics Company may now be able to presort its mail orders(e.g., using set of bulk-mailing requests 112 of the mail pre-processserver 100) according to NDC, SCF, DU, carrier route, and/or carrierwalk sequence, format in standardized barcode (e.g., using uniquelyidentified print request data 118A/118B of the mail pre-process server100), and deliver it to the addressee efficiently. Further, use oftechnologies described in various embodiments of FIGS. 1-13 enabled ACMELogistics Company to update its mailing list, pre-stamp and pre-cancelits mail pieces by applying appropriate destination discounts to itsmail orders. The use of technologies described in various embodiments ofFIGS. 1-13 helped ACME Logistics Company manage its resourcesefficiently and profitably.

Various embodiments of the systems and techniques described here can berealized in a digital electronic circuitry, an integrated circuitry, aspecially designed application specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”), apiece of computer hardware, a firmware, a software application, and acombination thereof. These various embodiments can include embodiment inone or more computer programs that are executable and/or interpretableon a programmable system including one programmable processor, which maybe special or general purpose, coupled to receive data and instructionsfrom, and to transmit data and instructions to, a storage system, oneinput device, and at least one output device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications, and/or code) comprise machine-readable instructions for aprogrammable processor, and can be implemented in a high-levelprocedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or inassembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms “machine-readablemedium” and/or “computer-readable medium” refers to any computer programproduct, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks,memory, and/or Programmable Logic Devices (“PLDs”)) used to providemachine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, includinga machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as amachine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers toany signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to aprogrammable processor.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniquesdescribed here may be implemented on a computing device having a displaydevice (e.g., a cathode ray tube (“CRT”) and/or liquid crystal (“LCD”)monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and amouse 1024 by which the user can provide input to the computer. Otherkinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user aswell; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form ofsensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, and/ortactile feedback) and input from the user can be received in any form,including acoustic, speech, and/or tactile input.

The systems and techniques described here may be implemented in acomputing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a dataserver), a middleware component (e.g., an application server), a frontend component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical userinterface, and/or a Web browser through which a user can interact withan embodiment of the systems and techniques described here), and acombination thereof. The components of the system may also be coupledthrough a communication network.

The communication network may include a local area network (“LAN”) and awide area network (“WAN”) (e.g., the Internet). The computing system caninclude a client and a server. In one embodiment, the client and theserver are remote from each other and interact through the communicationnetwork.

FIG. 14 shows a cloud computing system 1400 in which mail pre-processserver 100 interacts with a number of printer devices 1402 _(1-N)through network 110 (e.g., a computer network such as a WAN). In one ormore embodiments, set of instructions 108 discussed above may be part ofa optimization engine 1404 (e.g., a set of modules) executing on mailpre-process server 100. In one or more embodiments, a number of clientdevices 1406 _(1-M) (e.g., mobile devices and/or computing devices suchas laptops, desktops, notebook computers etc.) may be capable ofinteracting with mail pre-process server 100 through an agent 1404_(1-M) of optimization engine 1404 executing thereon. In one or moreembodiments, client devices 1406 _(1-M) may be communicatively coupledto mail pre-process server 100 through network 110. As shown in FIG. 14, mail pre-process server 100 may be communicatively coupled to printerdevices 1402 _(1-N) also through network 110.

In an example embodiment, client devices 1406 _(1-M) may representindividuals/entities (e.g., businesses) uploading the source anddestination information of physical mail pieces 126A/B discussed abovethrough a website (example agent 1404 _(1-M)) providing an appropriateuser interface therefor. Other forms of agent 1404 _(1-M) are within thescope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. The aforementioneduploads may be that of digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 (here digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M)), each of which is in the form of adocument and/or an image. In one or more embodiments, each digitalpre-print mail file 200 _(1-M) may be automatically analyzed (e.g.,scanned) through optimization engine 1404 following upload thereof todynamically extract metadata 1450 _(1-M) (e.g., mailing metadata 612)therefrom. In one or more embodiments, optimization engine 1404 may beprovided with intelligence capabilities enhanced through a MachineLearning (ML) environment whereby portions of a digital pre-print mailfile 200 _(1-M) are scanned to extract information such as, but notlimited to, source location, destination location, type of document,document resolution, size of packaging material (or, document size) andso on; the auxiliary information discussed above may also be extractedas metadata 1450 _(1-M); FIG. 14 shows the extracted metadata 1450_(1-M) as part of memory 104, and auxiliary information 1470 _(1-M) aspart of the extracted metadata 1450 _(1-M).

FIG. 15 shows optimization engine 1404 dynamically performing collationof extracted metadata 1450 _(1-M) from each digital pre-print mail file200 _(1-M) uploaded through a corresponding client device 1406 _(1-M).In one or more embodiments, optimization engine 1404 may group digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M) based on shared characteristics 1510_(1-P) (e.g., destination location, type of document, documentresolution, size of packaging material) therebetween determined from thecollation of the extracted metadata 1450 _(1-M); FIG. 15 shows groups1550 _(1-P) of digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M) with scores1560 _(1-P) allotted thereto indicating the degree of matching. In oneor more embodiments, said grouping may be limited to a dynamicallydetermined window of time (e.g., threshold time 1460 stored in memory104 in FIG. 14 ) because dispatching of mailing items is time bound.

In one or more embodiments, printer devices 1402 _(1-N) may bedistributed across the cloud/network 110 and may be associated withprinting companies (e.g., first printing company 120A/second printingcompany 120B). In one or more embodiments, each printer device 1402_(1-N) may have a logistical node 1410 _(1-N) (e.g., a data processingdevice/server) associated therewith to control printing therethrough. Inone or more embodiments, printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N) (e.g.,document resolution supported, geographical location of printer device1402 _(1-N), availability, costs) for each printer device 1402 _(1-N)may be stored in a memory 1594 _(1-N) (e.g., a volatile and/or anon-volatile memory) of the corresponding logical node 1410 _(1-N)thereof. FIG. 15 shows each logistical node 1410 _(1-N) with a processor1592 _(1-N) communicatively coupled to memory 1594 _(1-N).

In one embodiment, printer devices 1402 _(1-N) may be communicativelycoupled to mail pre-process server 100 through network 110 vialogistical node 1410 _(1-N) as shown in FIG. 14 . In another exampleembodiment, each logistical node 1410 _(1-N) may itself becommunicatively coupled to a corresponding printer device 1402 _(1-N)through network 110. In one or more embodiments, printer characteristics1502 _(1-N) discussed above may be dynamically modified in accordancewith periodic bidirectional communication between optimization engine1404 and logistical node 1410 _(1-N). For example, mail pre-processserver 100 may be aware of a printer device 1402 _(1-N) being downthrough optimization engine 1404 and the updated printer characteristics1502 _(1-N) accessed therethrough.

In one or more embodiments, groups 1550 _(1-P) may be dynamicallymatched across network 110 to logistical nodes 1410 _(1-N)/printerdevices 1402 _(1-N) based on the dynamically determined printercharacteristics 1502 _(1-N); if required, some digital pre-print mailfile(s) 200 _(1-M) may be redistributed across existing groups 1550_(1-P) or regrouped under one or more new group(s) 1550 _(1-P). In oneor more embodiments, once matching of groups 1550 _(1-P) to logisticalnodes 1410 _(1-N)/printer devices 1402 _(1-N) is done, printer devices1402 _(1-N) may be able to print packaging material/envelopes (e.g.,packaging material 1580 _(1-P)) customized in accordance with theextracted metadata 1450 _(1-M) from digital pre-print mail file(s) 200_(1-M). In one example embodiment, for the aforementioned purpose,optimization engine 1404 may be configured to generate a master digitalfile 1598 _(1-P) based on commingling the extracted metadata 1450 _(1-M)from all digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M) within a group 1550_(1-P) for each group 1550 _(1-P). Here, master digital file 1598 _(1-P)may be in the form of a master document in which the extracted metadata1450 _(1-M) is intelligently laid out as per the requirements of theentities uploading the digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M). Saidmaster digital file 1598 _(1-P) (e.g., part of memory 104 of mailpre-process server 100) may be transmitted to the appropriate logisticalnode 1410 _(1-N) for printing purposes.

In one or more embodiments, it is possible to envision a change in mindwith regard to an entity associated with a client device 1406 _(1-M).For example, said entity may decide to include a personalized message onthe envelope to be printed and/or specify a fancier packaging material.Here, said entity may merely need to initiate the change through agent1404 _(1-M) within a dynamically determined threshold window of time(e.g., threshold time 1460) after the determination of groups 1550_(1-P) discussed above. Optimization engine 1404 may detect the changeand (newly) dynamically determine a (new) group 1550 _(1-P) into whichthe modified digital pre-print mail file 200 _(1-M) is classified.Depending on the new grouping, the modified digital pre-print mail file200 _(1-M) may be assigned to a new logistical node 1410 _(1-N) or thesame logistical node 1410 _(1-N).

In one or more embodiments, the capability provided to an entity tochange digital pre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M) after initial uploadthereof renders cloud computing system 1400 logistically dynamic. In oneor more embodiments, following the grouping, optimization engine 1404may transmit printable versions of documents (e.g., from master digitalfile 1598 _(1-P)) to respective client devices 1406 _(1-M) forpreviewing/viewing therethrough. FIG. 16 illustrates the transmission ofprintable versions 1602 _(1-M) to entities 1604 _(1-M) associated withclient devices 1406 _(1-M); said transmission may be in the form of textmessages with hyperlinks, multimedia messages, e-mails and so on; otherforms of transmission are within the scope of the exemplary embodimentsdiscussed herein. In one or more embodiments, an entity 1604 _(1-M) maythen be able to preview printable version 1602 _(1-M) through clientdevice 1406 _(1-M).

In one or more embodiments, entity 1604 _(1-M) may not be restricted tobeing the sender of physical mail pieces 126A/B. For example, anotherclient device 1406 _(1-M) may be associated with the receiver ofphysical mail pieces 126A/B. Here, said receiver may also be able topreview printable version 1602 _(1-M) (discussed above; againtransmitted to another client device 1406 _(1-M) associated with thereceiver) through another client device 1406 _(1-M). In one or moreembodiments, again the receiver may initiate the change in digitalpre-print mail file 200 _(1-M) associated with the sender through agent1404 _(1-M) executing on another client device 1406 _(1-M). Thus, it ispossible for both the sender and the receiver to dynamically control theend product printed through a printer device 1402 _(1-N).

The changes in digital pre-print mail files 200 _(1-M) may not berestricted to personal preferences alone. For example, costs may bebased on the final bulk printing through a printer device 1402 _(1-N).Here, an entity at client device 1406 _(1-M) may be able to save coststhrough modifying (e.g., reducing a size of the output print) thecorresponding digital pre-print mail file 200 _(1-M). In anotherimplementation, bulk printing at a logistical node 1410 _(1-N)/printerdevice 1402 _(1-N) (each printer device 1402 _(1-N) may individuallysignify a number of printers; a cluster of printers is also possible)may be directed to a specific geographical area of coverage that isaffected by war. Here, through action at an agent 1404 _(1-M) of aclient device 1406 _(1-M), optimization engine 1404 may be configured toroute all grouped digital pre-print mail files 200 _(1-M) destined for alogistical node 1410 _(1-N)/printer device 1402 _(1-N) to anotherlogistical node 1410 _(1-N)/printer device 1402 _(1-N) (e.g., close tothe war zone but not affected by the war). In another modification, theaction may be triggered automatically by optimization engine 1404 basedon dynamic updates of memory 104 thereof.

It is to be noted that cloud computing system 1400 is not limited topostal logistics applications. For example, cloud computing system 1400may be used by an entity submitting standardized test scores ofcandidates to educational universities in an optimized manner. Also, theend printed product is not restricted to packaging material; said endprinted product may actually be the physical mail piece 126A/B (e.g., astandardizable letter). Again, the optimization provided by optimizationengine 1404 may enable both the sender and the receiver to be apprisedof the printable versions 1602 _(1-M) and/or the changes in routingthereof dynamically.

In one or more embodiments, dynamic extraction of metadata 1450 _(1-M)discussed above may enable bringing in or classification of new printerdevices 1402 _(1-N) within cloud computing system 1400 in accordancewith the dynamically determined printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N). Ina non-dynamic system, capabilities of existing printer devices 1402_(1-N) may be static and, therefore, grouping and routing of digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M) to logistical nodes 1410_(1-N)/printer devices 1402 _(1-N) may be inefficient. Exemplaryembodiments implemented through cloud computing system 1400 may providefor increased efficiency through dynamic addition of new printer devices1402 _(1-N) into cloud computing system 1400 based on dynamicallyextracted metadata 1450 _(1-M) from digital pre-print mail file(s) 200_(1-M) and dynamically updated printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N) toaddress the requirement(s) of printing specified through the digitalpre-print mail file(s) 200 _(1-M). In one or more embodiments, thegrouping and the routing of the digital pre-print mail file(s) 200_(1-M) may occur after the dynamic addition of new printer devices 1402_(1-N).

It should be noted that the intelligence/ML built into cloud computingsystem 1400 may also enable dynamic addition of printer devices 1402_(1-N) based on a history of extracted metadata 1450 _(1-M) stored atmemory 104 of mail pre-process server 100 and a dynamic update (e.g.,one or more dynamic update(s)) of printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N).FIG. 17 shows an example printer device 1402 _(1-N) with a processor1702 communicatively coupled to a memory 1704. Said example printerdevice 1402 _(1-N) may have a number of sensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q)communicatively coupled to processor 1702 to communicate operatingstatuses thereof. For example, printer device 1402 _(1-N) may be low ontoner ink, may not have papers of a specific size loaded onto a traythereof or may have a specific cartridge that requires to be changed.Said status may be communicated to processor 1702 dynamically throughsensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q); processor 1702, in turn, may update memory 1594_(1-N) of a logistical node 1410 _(1-N) corresponding to said printerdevice 1402 _(1-N). Thus, printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N) may bechanged to enable optimization engine 1404 exclude said printer device1402 _(1-N) from being employed for distribution of digital pre-printmail file(s) 200 _(1-M) to printer devices 1402 _(1-N) across network110. Alternately, the change in printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N) mayenable logistical node 1410 _(1-N) update an administrator thereof tochange components of said printer device 1402 _(1-N).

It should be noted that sensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q) may not be limited tosensing functioning of printer device 1402 _(1-N). In an exampleembodiment, a bunch of sensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q) may track an environment1750 surrounding printer device 1402 _(1-N). For example, the endprintouts may not turn out correctly or may be torn or messed up at thetime of collection. These sensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q) may then enabletriggering of a reprinting through printer device 1402 _(1-N) or aredistribution of the corresponding digital pre-print mail file 200_(1-M) to another logistical node 1410 _(1-N) through logistical node1410 _(1-N) associated with printer device 1402 _(1-N). In anotherexample embodiment, printer device 1402 _(1-N) may not be used for daysor weeks, thereby indicating a problem at logistical node 1410 _(1-N).Sensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q) may detect the problem and appropriatelycommunicate to optimization engine 1404 through logistical node 1410_(1-N).

Exemplary embodiments (e.g., optimization engine 1404) discussed hereinmay also be implementable as instructions embodied in a non-transitorymedium such as a Compact Disc (CD), Digital Video Disc (DVD), a harddisk and a Blu-Ray™ disc readable through cloud computing system1400/mail pre-process server 100. Said instructions are executablethrough cloud computing system 1400/mail pre-process server 100. Allreasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodimentsdiscussed herein.

FIG. 18 shows a process flow diagram detailing the operations involvedin realizing cloud computing system 1400 with printer devices 1402_(1-N), according to one or more embodiments. In one or moreembodiments, operation 1802 may involve distributing each printer device(e.g., printer device 1402 _(1-N)) of a number of printer devices (e.g.,printer devices 1402 _(1-N)) across a computer network (e.g., network110) with a corresponding each logistical node (e.g., logistical node1410 _(1-N)) of a number of logistical nodes (e.g., logistical nodes1410 _(1-N)) associated therewith. In one or more embodiments, thecorresponding each logistical node may be a data processing device.

In one or more embodiments, operation 1804 may involve determining,through a server (e.g., mail pre-process server 100) communicativelycoupled to the number of printer devices via the computer network,receipt of a number of digital pre-print mail files (e.g., digitalpre-print mail files 200 _(1-M)) relevant to physical mailing items(e.g., physical mail pieces 126A/B) to be mailed from source locationsto destination locations. In one or more embodiments, each of the numberof digital pre-print mail files may be associated with a client device(e.g., 1406 _(1-M)) communicatively coupled to the server through thecomputer network, and each client device may be related to a physicalmailing item.

In one or more embodiments, operation 1806 may involve, through theserver, dynamically extracting, from the number of digital pre-printmail files, metadata (e.g., metadata 1450 _(1-M)) about source addressesand destination addresses of the physical mailing items, metadata(metadata 1450 _(1-M)) relevant to documents related to the physicalmailing items to be printed and metadata (e.g., metadata 1450 _(1-M))representing auxiliary information (e.g., auxiliary information 1470_(1-M)) specifying mailing constraints based on scanning the number ofdigital pre-print mail files.

In one or more embodiments, operation 1808 may involve classifying,through the server, the number of digital pre-print mail files intogroups (e.g., groups 1550 _(1-P)) based on an extent to which thedynamically extracted metadata is shared (e.g., based on sharedcharacteristics 1510 _(1-P)) between constituents thereof. In one ormore embodiments, operation 1810 may involve dynamically tracking theeach printer device of the number of printer devices through thecorresponding each logistical node in conjunction with the server forprinter characteristics (e.g., printer characteristics 1502 _(1-N))thereof following the classification of the number of digital pre-printmail files into the groups.

In one or more embodiments, operation 1812 may involve matching, throughthe server, each classified group to a logistical node based on thedynamically extracted metadata shared between the constituents thereofand the dynamically tracked printer characteristics. In one or moreembodiments, operation 1814 may involve commingling, through the server,the extracted metadata related to all of the constituents of the eachclassified group into a master document (e.g., master digital file 1598_(1-P)) in which the extracted metadata is laid out to enable printingthereof through a printer device associated with the matched logisticalnode.

In one or more embodiments, operation 1816 may involve determining,through the server, a status of unsuitability of the printer deviceassociated with the matched logistical node based on a sensor (e.g., oneor more of sensor(s) 1710 _(1-Q)) associated with the printer devicetransmitting status information of the printer device and/or anenvironment surrounding the printer device to the server via the matchedlogistical node. In one or more embodiments, operation 1818 may theninvolve reclassifying, through the server, one or more constituent(s) ofthe classified group associated with the matched logistical node underanother classified group to enable matching thereof to anotherlogistical node based on the determined status of unsuitability.

As seen above, it is to be noted that cloud computing system 1400 is notlimited to postal logistics applications and standardized test coresubmissions. In another example, a university may provide physicalcopies of transcripts to students, where optimization of printing ofsaid physical copies is done based on commonality between requeststherefor, metadata extracted from pre-print files, group classificationand other processes discussed above. One could also envision bulkprinting of invitation cards where layout information of the invitationcards is specified through pre-print files. Thus, physical mailing items(e.g., physical mail pieces 126A/126B) may be generalized to physicalitems and digital pre-print mail files 200 may be generalized to digitalpre-print files. Source and destination addresses are merely examples ofmetadata 1450 _(1-M) and auxiliary information 1470 _(1-M) may specifypre-conditions associated with the corresponding number of requests(e.g., bulk mailing requests 112), as discussed above.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the claimed invention. In addition, the logicflows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown,or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, othersteps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the describedflows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, thedescribed systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scopeof the following claims.

It may be appreciated that the various systems, methods, and apparatusdisclosed herein may be embodied in a machine-readable medium and/or amachine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system(e.g., a computer system such as cloud computing system 1400/mailpre-process server 100), and/or may be performed in any order.

The structures and modules in the figures may be shown as distinct andcommunicating with only a few specific structures and not others. Thestructures may be merged with each other, may perform overlappingfunctions, and may communicate with other structures not shown to beconnected in the figures. Accordingly, the specification and/or drawingsmay be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: distributing each printerdevice of a plurality of printer devices across a computer network witha corresponding each logistical node of a plurality of logistical nodesassociated therewith, the corresponding each logistical node being adata processing device; determining, through a server communicativelycoupled to the plurality of printer devices via the computer network,receipt of a number of digital pre-print files included in acorresponding number of requests, each of which originates from a clientdevice of a plurality of client devices communicatively coupled to theserver through the computer network, the number of requests beingrelevant to printing a number of physical items, the client device ofthe plurality of client devices originating the each request beingrelevant to a physical item of the number of physical items, and each ofthe number of digital pre-print files specifying printing and layoutinformation pertinent to a corresponding physical item of the number ofphysical items; through the server, dynamically extracting, from thenumber of digital pre-print files, metadata relevant to documentsrelated to the number of physical items to be printed and metadatarepresenting auxiliary information specifying pre-conditions associatedwith the corresponding number of requests based on automaticallyscanning the each of the number of digital pre-print files; classifying,through the server, the number of digital pre-print files into groupsbased on an extent to which the dynamically extracted metadata is sharedbetween constituents thereof; dynamically tracking the each printerdevice of the plurality of printer devices through the correspondingeach logistical node in conjunction with the server for printercharacteristics thereof following the classification of the number ofdigital pre-print files into the groups; matching, through the server,each classified group to a logistical node based on the dynamicallyextracted metadata shared between the constituents thereof and thedynamically tracked printer characteristics; commingling, through theserver, the extracted metadata related to all of the constituents of theeach classified group into a master document in which the commingledextracted metadata is laid out for printing thereof through a printerdevice associated with the matched logistical node; determining, throughthe server, a status of unsuitability of the printer device associatedwith the matched logistical node based on a sensor associated with theprinter device transmitting status information of at least one of: theprinter device and an environment surrounding the printer device to theserver via the matched logistical node, the determined status ofunsuitability modifying the printer characteristics of the printerdevice to at least one of: exclude the printer device for distributionof any of the number of digital pre-print files thereto and update anadministrator of the matched logistical node with a requirement tochange a component of the printer device; and reclassifying, through theserver, at least one constituent of the classified group associated withthe matched logistical node under another classified group to enablematching thereof to another logistical node based on the determinedstatus of unsuitability.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingproviding, through the server, a capability to each client deviceassociated with the each digital pre-print file to modify the eachdigital pre-print file within a dynamically determined window of timefollowing the group classification.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising detecting, through the server, the modification to the eachdigital pre-print file to enable extraction of metadata therefrom andregrouping thereof.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdynamically adding, through the server, at least one printer device tobe distributed across the computer network based on a history ofextracted metadata by the server and a dynamic update of printercharacteristics associated with the at least one printer device.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising enabling, through the server, eachclient device associated with the each digital pre-print file to previewa printable version of a document relevant to the physical itemassociated therewith.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdynamically updating the printer characteristics of the each printerdevice of the plurality of printer devices in accordance with periodicbidirectional communication between the server and the correspondingeach logistical node associated with the each printer device.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, comprising the master document representing at leastone of: the physical items associated with the each classified group andpackaging material thereof.
 8. A non-transitory medium, readable througha server and comprising instructions embodied therein that areexecutable through the server, comprising: instructions to distributeeach printer device of a plurality of printer devices across a computernetwork with a corresponding each logistical node of a plurality oflogistical nodes associated therewith, the corresponding each logisticalnode being a data processing device, and the plurality of printerdevices being communicatively coupled to the server via the computernetwork; instructions to determine receipt of a number of digitalpre-print files included in a corresponding number of requests, each ofwhich originates from a client device of a plurality of client devicescommunicatively coupled to the server through the computer network, thenumber of requests being relevant to printing a number of physicalitems, the client device of the plurality of client devices originatingthe each request being relevant to a physical item of the number ofphysical items, and each of the number of digital pre-print filesspecifying printing and layout information pertinent to a correspondingphysical item of the number of physical items; instructions todynamically extract, from the number of digital pre-print files,metadata relevant to documents related to the number of physical itemsto be printed and metadata representing auxiliary information specifyingpre-conditions associated with the corresponding number of requestsbased on automatically scanning the each of the number of digitalpre-print files; instructions to classify the number of digitalpre-print files into groups based on an extent to which the dynamicallyextracted metadata is shared between constituents thereof; instructionsto dynamically track the each printer device of the plurality of printerdevices in conjunction with the corresponding each logistical node forprinter characteristics thereof following the classification of thenumber of digital pre-print files into the groups; instructions to matcheach classified group to a logistical node based on the dynamicallyextracted metadata shared between the constituents thereof and thedynamically tracked printer characteristics; instructions to comminglethe extracted metadata related to all of the constituents of the eachclassified group into a master document in which the commingledextracted metadata is laid out for printing thereof through a printerdevice associated with the matched logistical node; instructions todetermine a status of unsuitability of the printer device associatedwith the matched logistical node based on a sensor associated with theprinter device transmitting status information of at least one of: theprinter device and an environment surrounding the printer device to theserver via the matched logistical node, the determined status ofunsuitability modifying the printer characteristics of the printerdevice to at least one of: exclude the printer device for distributionof any of the number of digital pre-print files thereto and update anadministrator of the matched logistical node with a requirement tochange a component of the printer device; and instructions to reclassifyat least one constituent of the classified group associated with thematched logistical node under another classified group to enablematching thereof to another logistical node based on the determinedstatus of unsuitability.
 9. The non-transitory medium of claim 8,further comprising instructions to provide a capability to each clientdevice associated with the each digital pre-print file to modify theeach digital pre-print file within a dynamically determined window oftime following the group classification.
 10. The non-transitory mediumof claim 9, further comprising instructions to detect the modificationto the each digital pre-print file to enable extraction of metadatatherefrom and regrouping thereof.
 11. The non-transitory medium of claim8, further comprising instructions to dynamically add at least oneprinter device to be distributed across the computer network based on ahistory of extracted metadata by the server and a dynamic update ofprinter characteristics associated with the at least one printer device.12. The non-transitory medium of claim 8, further comprisinginstructions to enable each client device associated with the eachdigital pre-print file to preview a printable version of a documentrelevant to the physical item associated therewith.
 13. Thenon-transitory medium of claim 8, further comprising instructions todynamically update the printer characteristics of the each printerdevice of the plurality of printer devices in accordance with periodicbidirectional communication between the server and the correspondingeach logistical node associated with the each printer device.
 14. Thenon-transitory medium of claim 8, comprising instructions compatiblewith the master document representing at least one of: the physicalitems associated with the each classified group and packaging materialthereof.
 15. A server comprising: a memory; and a processorcommunicatively coupled to the memory, the processor executinginstructions to: distribute each printer device of a plurality ofprinter devices across a computer network with a corresponding eachlogistical node of a plurality of logistical nodes associated therewith,the corresponding each logistical node being a data processing device,and the plurality of printer devices being coupled to the server throughthe computer network, determine receipt of a number of digital pre-printfiles included in a corresponding number of requests, each of whichoriginates from a client device of a plurality of client devicescommunicatively coupled to the server through the computer network, thenumber of requests being relevant to printing a number of physicalitems, the client device of the plurality of client devices originatingthe each request being relevant to a physical item of the number ofphysical items, and each of the number of digital pre-print filesspecifying printing and layout information pertinent to a correspondingphysical item of the number of physical items, dynamically extract, fromthe number of digital pre-print files, metadata relevant to documentsrelated to the number of physical items to be printed and metadatarepresenting auxiliary information specifying pre-conditions associatedwith the corresponding number of requests based on automaticallyscanning the each of the number of digital pre-print files, classify thenumber of digital pre-print files into groups based on an extent towhich the dynamically extracted metadata is shared between constituentsthereof, dynamically track the each printer device of the plurality ofprinter devices in conjunction with the corresponding each logisticalnode for printer characteristics thereof following the classification ofthe number of digital pre-print files into the groups, match eachclassified group to a logistical node based on the dynamically extractedmetadata shared between the constituents thereof and the dynamicallytracked printer characteristics, commingle the extracted metadatarelated to all of the constituents of the each classified group into amaster document in which the commingled extracted metadata is laid outfor printing thereof through a printer device associated with thematched logistical node, determine a status of unsuitability of theprinter device associated with the matched logistical node based on asensor associated with the printer device transmitting statusinformation of at least one of: the printer device and an environmentsurrounding the printer device to the server via the matched logisticalnode, the determined status of unsuitability modifying the printercharacteristics of the printer device to at least one of: exclude theprinter device for distribution of any of the number of digitalpre-print files thereto and update an administrator of the matchedlogistical node with a requirement to change a component of the printerdevice, and reclassify at least one constituent of the classified groupassociated with the matched logistical node under another classifiedgroup to enable matching thereof to another logistical node based on thedetermined status of unsuitability.
 16. The server of claim 15, whereinthe processor further executes instructions to provide a capability toeach client device associated with the each digital pre-print file tomodify the each digital pre-print file within a dynamically determinedwindow of time following the group classification.
 17. The server ofclaim 16, wherein the processor further executes instructions to detectthe modification to the each digital pre-print file to enable extractionof metadata therefrom and regrouping thereof.
 18. The server of claim15, wherein the processor further executes instructions to dynamicallyadd at least one printer device to be distributed across the computernetwork based on a history of extracted metadata by the server and adynamic update of printer characteristics associated with the at leastone printer device.
 19. The server of claim 15, wherein the processorfurther executes instructions to enable each client device associatedwith the each digital pre-print file to preview a printable version of adocument relevant to the physical item associated therewith.
 20. Theserver of claim 15, wherein the processor further executes instructionsto dynamically update the printer characteristics of the each printerdevice of the plurality of printer devices in accordance with periodicbidirectional communication between the server and the correspondingeach logistical node associated with the each printer device.